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Propane autogas is on its way to becoming a key player in the alternative-fuel industry in the U.S. as advocates ramp up efforts to boost market adoption of the fuel, observers say. For example, the Department of Energy granted CleanFuel USA $12 million to build 168 autogas stations in 16 U.S. cities.

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By 2020, the Department of Defense will have acquired more than 155,000 alternative-fuel vehicles, including ones capable of running on E85 and B20, according to a report. Navigant Research found that the department will spend more than $900 million in an effort to save more than $92 million in fuel costs every year and meet environmental requirements.

A bill in the West Virginia Legislature seeks to limit the state's tax credit for alternative-fuel vehicles to those that run on natural gas, butane and propane starting April 15. The measure would also repeal the tax incentive for developing alternative-fuel infrastructure. The bill would help West Virginia save money while promoting its natural gas industry, according to the office of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

It will be a busy year for the alternative-fuel industry, thanks to the reinstatement of several biofuel-related tax incentives, said Rick Price, executive director of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities. The tax-credit extensions are "going to help move people that have been teetering on the edge," Price said. "This year's going to be very busy going out and reinvigorating those people," he stated.

The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has launched the Transparent Cost Database. By showing comparative cost and performance estimates for alternative-fuel technologies, the database provides benchmarks for companies and policymakers. Users can search the database by powertrain type or fuel.

An Iowa House committee voted 5-0 to approve legislation that would raise the state's fuel tax by 8 cents per gallon and add a new registration fee for alternative-fuel vehicles. Under the bill, annual assessment fees for vehicles that run partially on alternative fuels would be $50, while those that run exclusively on alternative fuels would be $100.